The Rosebay Willowherb can be found growing wild in North America, Canada and Britian. In North America, this plant is called Fireweed. In Canada, it is called Great-willow Herb. This herb thrives in wet, acidic soils. It can be found growing in open fields and pastures. The stems of the plant have a reddish color. The flowers are a pretty pink or magenta. This plant looks very similar to a few toxic species of the lily family. When collecting this plant from the wild, you should seek advice from a herbalist when in doubt. The Rosebay Willowherb has been used for thousands of years in herbal medicine.
The Native Americans used the young shoots of this plant as food and often mixed it with greens. Sometimes the stems were peeled and eaten raw. The stems contain an excellent sopurce of vitamin A and C. In herbal medicine, the stems were used for treating boils and cuts. The roots of this plant were often roasted. The roots have a very bitter taste. Parts of the plant were often cooked as a vegetable. In Alaska, desserts and honey are made from the plant. In Russia, the leaves were used for making a tea substitute. Today, this herb is used for reestablishing vegetation in disturbed areas. In some regions, this plant is considered to be a problem weed.
Thw Rosebay Willowherb can tolerate shade and many different climate conditions. Cattle and deer love to eat it . The flowers produce a lot of nectar. A wide array of insects are also associated with the plant. In the United Kingdom, the Rosebay Willowherb can be found growing wild in open woodlands and rocky places. You will not find it growing in waterlogged soil. It thrives around ponds and on dry sandy heaths. It is a very attractive plant that is often used for decorating. The flowers of this plant bloom will from June to September.
The Rosebay Willowherb is the main diet of the Elephant Hawk moth. Many gardeners love to grow this plant for ornamental purposes. The leaves of this herb were often used by Native Americans to make a tobacco substitute. This plant had a wide variety of uses. It can still be found growing wild in many regions today. Many people still consider the plant as a weed. Itcan also be found growing in burned fields, which is how it got the name Fireweed.
